Chiari Connection International

Chiari Connection International

 
Lifestyle Suggestions--Page 3
Suggestions:

1. A long feather duster to dusk high places such as ceiling fans and ceilings.

2. Wear good supportive tennis shoes when mopping to keep from slipping and falling!

3. Heating pad to neck and shoulder, head and legs for pain.

4. Take some cream for your face and feet.

5. Massage therapy/ craniosacral therapy (light touch therapy).

6. Going outside for a walk, and get some Vitamin D.

7. Being around loved ones and positive thinking individuals helps me emotionally.

8. Cervical collar to neck.

9. Good posture, especially when sitting in front of computer.

10. Drinking lots of water to flush out toxins and is good for body.

11. Less-strenuous forms of exercising such as walking and exercise bike.

12. Getting a good night sleep.

13. Taking Melatonin when you can't sleep; may take 1-2 months to take affect. (Check with your doctor.

14. Watching funny movies and favorite ones with loved ones.

15. Spreading out house cleaning over a week's time.

16. Rest when needed!

17. Sleep with a good memory foam pillow one that is firm but not too firm, and will support your head and neck.

18. Take your medicine as soon as you feel the pain coming on to avoid more intense pain later on that day.

19. Don't eat chocolate or drink too much caffeine if they give you a bad headache (and any other foods you notice).

20. Do doorway stretches for your neck and shoulders.

21. Women- get your toenails painted by someone else if possible, because the constant looking down, strains your neck and will make it hurt (at least it does mine).

22. Tell hospitals, all your Dr.'s and medics of the rods and plates in your spine if you have them.

23. Get a medical ID badge that says Do Not Hyperextend Neck; research it on the group (someone posted a message about the medical alert ID's and what to include).

24. I use a planner. A big one that I write what I am scheduled to do and what I have done. I fly A LOT, so use a rolled up towel behind my neck to reduce the movement of my head when there is turbulence to support my neck. The planner/calendar is a big one for me.

25. Do WATER aerobics and that actually works very well and it will not hurt you.

26. In everyday life, I have a step ladder at home to get into cabinets because I can't look up very far without seeing stars or feeling a lot of pain.

27. I have a soft, flat pillow in my car that I always use behind my back when I am driving. I also keep an extra one in the trunk in case I have time to rest in the car. The extra pillow allows me to rest even more comfortably.

28. I keep a container of medicine in a hidden place in my car in case I forgot to take it at home. That avoids having to go home just to take my medicine.

29. I almost always use the electric stroller at the grocery store. It helps to avoid pushing a heavy cart which exasperates my symptoms.

30. I always ask the grocery store baggers to help me lift the groceries into my car. Every little bit helps.

31. I change my pillows every 6 months. I find that they get as hard as rocks and hurt my head if I keep them around too long.

32. I always take pillows on trips. Motels never have soft pillows and certainly not enough of them. We take an extra suitcase crammed full of pillows.

33. I try to get some exercise in my shoulders and back, and like to do that in the shower. Let the warm water warm your muscles, then do shoulder rotations, and arm lifts and rotations while in the shower. It gets the juices flowing and the warm water helps to limber up the muscle cramps.

34. To help with sight distance that is limited with craniocervical fusion, my husband installed small circular mirrors on each side mirror which takes away the blind spots and enables me to see in the sides and rear without turning my neck very much.

35. I find that eliminating sugar from my diet keeps my inflammation in my muscles down a great deal. A nutritional diet makes me feel so much better all around.

36. When I go to sleep, I am able to fall asleep in 5 minutes if I have earphones in and either a book on tape, or soft music or even scriptures being read via a CD player or laptop. This alone has been so helpful to me to get to sleep quickly and relax much more easily.

37. Use small earbuds that fall out when you fall asleep without hurting anything.

38. Allow other people to help you when they offer. I used to be too proud to do this, but found out that many times people really like to help those who need it. It allows them to be blessed by helping you, all the while helping you immensely.

39. Don't forget to register with MedicAlert. I have their decal on the driver's side of our van. That way even if I don't have my bracelet, someone may be alerted to my special needs.

40. If you go to a public event or park that has electric strollers, rent it at the beginning of the day. If you wait until your legs get tired, they will probably be all gone.

41. If you get uptight or afraid about some difficult symptoms, try to think of something very peaceful and calm. I do this by memorizing scriptures from the Bible that are very encouraging that I replay in my mind. I also like to put myself back on a raft in the Caribbean Sea at the Cayman Islands where I lived many years ago. Just the tranquility and calmness helps to relax me and helps me deal with my symptoms.

42. When I have a headache I push around on my head till I feel an area of where I apply the (gentle )pushing of my finger tips and I feel some relief, then hold my hand there and keep it there with some slight massage till it seems to give relief.

43. I eat small meals through the day it helps with the full feeling and nausea. I get only slight nausea myself not bad, like some, but I think and find (small amounts of food at a time), very helpful along with good choice of food.

44. Many Chiari sufferers seem to have lots of hand pain. My father has Lupus and I have EDS. We both have a tremendous amount of hand pain. I found spinner balls at JC Penney.com and they are invaluable! We have one on every vehicle and they are a life saver. We were told they were illegal but I checked it out and they aren't.

Remember: There is no "right" pillow for everyone. However finding what is "right" for you is IMPORTANT. It can make HUGE differences, and definitely work trying a few different types.

Things that help with cognitive issues:

1. My decompression surgery improved my cognitive by leaps and bounds. Prior to my surgery, I was so bad that I couldn't even remember my husband's cell phone number.

2. I find that if I say a person's name out loud a few times that I am speaking with them, I remember the name better.


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